Fort Snelling

Approaching Fort Snelling from the north it would be difficult not to pass by the old Minnehaha Depot which is just south of Godfrey. Whether you come by way of Minnehaha Parkway, West River Parkway or Hiawatha. Either way will bring you through Minnehaha Park past the old depot on your way to Fort Snelling.

South of Minnehaha Park you will begin a long slow decent to the river valley below.

At the bottom of the decent you will arrive at the Fort Snelling State Park Visitor Center. From here you can continue on through the lowland park or take the steep climb up to the fort above.

Proceeding through the park past the visitor center you will pass Snelling Lake. There is a nice picnic area on the east side of the lake with playground and large sandy beach.

The climb out of the river valley to the historic Fort Snelling above is quite steep and I had to move from the 60t chainring to the 40t chainring to make this climb.

South of Fort Snelling the bike trail leads to the Mendota Bridge and crosses over the river valley on the way to Mendota Heights and West Saint Paul.